Washington Post: Ever since European seaports closed their gates to Iranian oil tankers last summer, Iran has looked to the East to keep its economy afloat. Countries such as China, India and South Korea — some of them critics of Western sanctions — have offered Iran a lifeline of reliable markets and much-needed dollars.
Iran could begin feeling a further squeeze on its oil income soon
Iran courts restart of nuke talks, but snubs UN
AP: Iran has floated specific dates for reopening talks with the U.S. and other world powers about its nuclear program. At the same time, Tehran has left U.N. nuclear inspectors empty-handed when it comes to addressing Western suspicions that it’s conducting tests related to nuclear weapons.
India hesitant to implement US, EU sanctions on Iran: Report
Times of India: India is hesitant to implement all aspects of US and European Union sanctions against Iran, a congressional report has said, attributing this to New Delhi’s reliance on Tehran with regards to Afghanistan and the historic, cultural and economic ties between the two nations.
Official: Iran won’t stop uranium enrichment
AP: An Iranian diplomat says Tehran will not stop uranium enrichment “for a moment,” defying demands from the U.N. and world powers to halt its suspect nuclear program.
U.S., Iran running low on options over nuclear program
NPR: With time running out on efforts to monitor Iran’s nuclear program, 2013 could well be the year when the United States must decide whether to take military action to block Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
The Walking, by Laleh Khadivi
Independent: In 1979, at the age of two, Laleh Khadivi escaped the Islamic revolution in Iran with her family, emigrating to North America. Identity and exile are her natural themes, and her Kurdish roots have focused her attention so far on Kurdish Iranians.
IMF to assess Iran economy in next six months
Reuters: The International Monetary Fund will visit Iran in the first half of the year to assess the state of its economy and the impact of Western sanctions, a senior IMF official said on Friday.
US ‘deeply disappointed’ on Iran talks
AFP: The United States said Friday it was “deeply disappointed” by Iran’s response to a team from the UN nuclear agency, criticizing Tehran’s reluctance to provide access to a sensitive site.
Iran executes alleged juvenile offender
Amnesty International: The execution in Iran this week of a 21-year-old man for a crime he allegedly committed while apparently still a juvenile shows a deplorable disregard for international law, Amnesty International said.
The message Hagel carries on Iran
Washington Post: The Hagel nomination comes at a critical moment. Some experts believe that Iran may soon amass enough enriched uranium to give it “breakout capacity” — allowing it to quickly produce a nuclear weapon at a time of its choosing.
